Rubbing my cheek against Teddy’s chest, his arms tighten and his hips flex against me. He lets out a low moan as he grinds that hard length into my stomach. Should I stop him? I don’t want to, but this is moving really fast, and I just met him today. Betas don’t pack up often, our sense of smell isn’t good enough for there to be that instant attraction, but I’m drawn to both of them.
What am I saying? Sam has always been hot, I mean, he’s older. But not like my parent’s age or anything. Ew. Just old enough that a few of the dark hairs in his beard have started to turn silver. Pretty sure he could pass for younger if he shaved it off. Heck, he’d still be hot though. Should I stop? I know I shouldn’t be wrapping my hands farther around Teddy to run them up Sam’s chest behind him.
I shouldn’t be touching either of them.
I don’t even know Teddy’s last name.
They look so good together.
Is it hot in here?
Pushing away from Teddy and Sam, the arms that are around my back and stroking my shoulder let me go reluctantly. Teddy breaks their kiss and they both turn to look at me. Teddy’s eyes are glassy, and his cookie scent is strong enough that it’s nearly overwhelming, even taking a couple steps back. His erection is obvious in those basketball shorts Sam loaned him. I worry that he’s uncomfortable, but I need to take a couple minutes tobreathe, because this has never happened before, and I just…I need time.
Stepping farther away, I try to clear my mind, I need fresh air. I can still feel how wet I am, just trying to walk away. I’ll have to step outside to get away from Teddy’s scent, just to clear my head before I do something I can’t take back. Teddy lets out a low omega whine when I turn away and I feel mean, but I need to get out, I need to think for a second.
The whine cuts off and a low growly murmur takes its place, Sam’s alpha is trying to comfort the distressed omega pressed against him. I spin back around, wanting to explain that I just need a minute to think, and Sam’s hard glare meets my eyes. Teddy has turned around and curled against Sam’s chest, his big body shaking as he holds the alpha in a death grip.
Sugarsnaps!
Trying to explain, I don’t want to sound like I’m making excuses. Would Teddy let me hug him? I just wanted a few minutes to clear my head, this is all new to me. “I just…gimme a minute, ok? I’m sorry, but I’ve never felt like this…with anybody…and you two…” I trail off, not sure how to finish this sentence without admitting how scared I am of what might happen.
“I’m sorry, my body is pullin’ me one way, my mind is pullin’ me the other. I just need a few minutes to think. Teddy, you are so handsome, and all I wanna do right now is touch you. I’ve never felt that way about anyone. I don’t mind hugs, but there’s never been anyone that my hands actually ached to touch, like I thought if I didn’t, I might cry. It’s a little scary. Not you, you’re not scary…I’m sayin’ the wrong thing here, I just can’t get the words out right.”
This is embarrassing, and before I can stop it a frustrated tear slips free. Two big sets of arms are around me before I’m able toeven wipe it away. “I’m sorry I pushed you, Pixie. Please don’t cry.” Teddy’s own eyes are red when I look up to meet them.
“Neither one of y'all pushed. My body’s just really confused right now. I never saw myself gettin’ involved with an omega or an alpha, let alone both at the same time. But it’s just so easy with you, it feels strange not to be close to you, not to touch you. And it’s freakin’ me out, ’cause I’ve only dated a coupla guys before and they were both betas. I mean, and Sal, but it was just the two of us, and things never went farther than holding hands or kissing. I’m not a virgin, I…well…prom. But it just kinda hurt and I didn’t see much point....and I’m messing this all up.”
A matched set of rumbly growls starts up on either side of my body, and I don’t hate it, then Sam’s cuts off suddenly. “Wait, you mean Sal from the garage, the alpha who was best man today?” I can’t stop the blush that spreads up my cheeks.
But I want to growl myself when Teddy opens his mouth. “Oh, yeah, no, she’s very pretty, I can see why you’d…” The rest of his sentence is cut off by Sam’s snarl, as he’s glaring at the front door like he might need to go hunt down Sal.
I sniff, wiping away another escaped tear. “Yeah, sheispretty, and super sweet. We just didn’t have much of anything in common. She seemed pretty smitten with Stephanie today though, and I’d totally ship ’em. They’d be adorable together.” Teddy laughs at me, and I’m glad to see him smile again, but Sam’s just staring between the two of us.
“What do ya mean, ship?”
Teddy snorts laughter at that, finally defusing some of the tension, before wrapping me in his arms. He picks me up—much to my surprise—and carries me into the living room before sitting on the couch, holding me in his lap.
“Sorry, Pixie. I guess it’s an alpha and omega thing. Sam’s scent calls to me. To the point that I was already distracted before we got to the ceremony. Now being in his space, it’s takinga lot of willpower not to just drag him into the bed and bite him. From what I remember of alpha training, it’s probably the same with him. We seem to be very scent compatible. I feel like he’s mine. But, you…I feel like you’re mine too. Which is a bit of a surprise.”
Teddy’s arms squeeze me tighter before one hand reaches up to turn my face towards Sam. “It doesn’t hurt that he’s stupidly hot, either, does it?” He chuckles against my hair and lets my jaw go so I can face him again.
“But I’m sorry that my hormones cause the freaky mood swings. When you turned away a minute ago my crazy omega shit read it as rejection, and it felt like everything was falling apart. I don’t want you to feel bad, ever. But especially not if you don’t want to be with me...us. It’s completely up to you, Pixie.”
“But I’m not an alpha, or another omega, how could I be yours?”Yup, I’m still stuck on that.Other than the basics of sex ed in school, I havenoidea about alpha or omega relationships. At the same time, my body feels like it wants to melt into Teddy as his rumbly purr starts up again. He’s back to poking me in the butt with his erection, and part of me is trying really hard to ignore it.
The other part is deep in thought when Sam settles next to us on the couch a few minutes later. One of his big hands starts rubbing down my back while the other strokes Teddy’s hair. Sam isn’t that much bigger than my omega, but he seems more dominant with him than me.
My omega, wait...what?
I practically melt into a puddle in Teddy’s lap with their dual purrs and stroking hands. My eyes close and I just breathe in—there’s a sudden startling thought. Their scents remind me of home. It’s not the same as my beta family’s subtle scents, but reminds me of Mom baking in the kitchen, especially aroundthe holidays. Teddy’s spicy vanilla and cinnamon makes me feel warm and cozy and calm.
While Sam’s sawdust and cedar make me think of Daddy’s workshop. He built me a hope chest when I was twelve. He isn’t very good at it, there are a few gaps in the boards, and it’s a little lopsided, but he tried, and while I never used it for keeping mating stuff, I love how my grandma’s patchwork quilt always smells like cedar when I take it out in the fall.
His cedar scent also makes me think of holidays. Tromping through the woods with my dad and brother, trying to find just the right tree for Christmas. Sometimes it was pine, but one year the perfect tree Daddy insisted we needed was a cedar that was almost fifteen feet tall. So, he climbed the tree and chopped off just the top seven feet, and we dragged it home. I still see it sometimes, in the winter when I go for walks behind the house. It’s taller now, but the top never grew back in the same.
Of course, Tuck and I both had to promise not to tell Mom that he was climbing trees in the ice and snow carrying a saw. Otherwise, I think he would have come back and gotten it without us later. Mom loved it, and Dad was extra proud that year. Sam’s smell reminds me of that tree, and I have to fight my body not to lean back across both their laps and just curl up for a nap. Today was kind of stressful, but I shouldn’t be this tired.
Sam’s hand pauses on my shoulder. “I got the sandwiches, if you two are still hungry?” It drags my attention over to the coffee table, and sure enough there are three plates of sandwiches, a bag of wavy chips with some sour cream and onion dip. I’m about to apologize again for not knowing what each person wanted and just making a variety of stuff I like, but Teddy scoots me around so he can reach down for two plates. He passes one to me before taking a huge bite out of the other one without even checking what’s inside.
